Container



Feb. 27, 1940.

M. H. CLINE 2,191,557A

CNTAINER Filed Jan. 26. 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 Fab. 27, Y1940. M. H.CLINE 2,191,557

ruud Jan. 2s, 1959 esmas-sneer 2 Patented Feb; 27, 1940 .UNITED STATESCONTAINER Melvin' n. oline, chicago, nl., mignon to Eneman-Kaye Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application Januaryv 26, 1939,Serial.No. 253,016

2 Claims.

My invention relates more particularly to containers, such as forexample toilet cases, having hinged covers.

My primary object is to provide a construc- 5 tion of container of thecharacter above stated,

' the cover of which in closed condition opposes the action of meanstending to swing it to open condition, whereby when the cover isreleased it automatically swings to open position. K

10 Another object is to provide a novel, simple and economicalconstruction functioning as above stated; and other objects as will bemanifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

1I Figure 1 is a rear View in elevation of a toilet case of the typeinvolving zipper means for holding the cover in closed condition, thecase embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in sectional elevai tion of the case ofFig. l, the section being taken at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1 and viewed inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a plan sectional view of the case showing the zipperreleased and the cover in 26 open condition, this view being taken atthe line 3 3 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. y

Figure 4 is afragmentary sectional view taken at the line 4--4 on Fig. 3andyiewed in the a()v direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of another form of toilet caseembodying my invention, the cover of the case being shown as secured inclosed condition.

l Figure 6 is a view like Fig. 5 and of the structure therein shownillustrating the cover in open condition.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at the line 1-1 on Fig.6 and viewed in the direc- 40' tion of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a plan view of still another construction of case embodyingmy invention, the cover, therein shown as formed of a pair of sections,being in closed condition; and Figure 9, a fragmentary section taken atthe line 9--9 on Fig. A8 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, thecover sections being shown by dotted lines in open condition.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 5 1-4, inclusive, the casetherein illustrated is, as

to its general lfeatures. of construction, of a common type. It'involvesa body portion III shown as formed of flexible sheet material, as forexample leather with a bottom plate reinforcel ment II. The case alsocomprises a cover portion I2 likewise shown as formed of exible sheetmaterial, as for example leather, with a plate reinforcement. I3 at itstop, the exible material of the cover portion depending around its foursides and forming a skirt portion I4.

The cover portion I2 is connected along one side of the case with thebody portion Il) by flexible sheet material. In the particularconstruction shown, by a flap Illa of flexible sheet material lextendingupwardly from the body por- 10 tion Ill and connected with the coverportionand also by a iiap I5 provided on the upper edge of the lining ofthe body portion and secured to the inside of the cover portion.

Closure means are provided for releasably holding 'the cover portion I2in closed position on the body portion I0, these means being shown ascomprising a zipper fastening means I6 as commonly provided instructures of this kind and extending from one end of the side of thebody portion l0 20 at which the cover portion I2 is hinged theretoaround the case to the other end of said side.

The upper surrounding edge of the body portion I0, at a point below thezipper I6 is provided with an endless reinforcing frame I'I, pref- 25erably of stiff wire, concealed within the sheet material forming thesides oi the body portion as shown.

The cover portion I2 at the edge thereof at which it is hingedlyconnected with the body por- 30 tion I0, is reinforced by an angleshaped member represented generally at I8. The portion I9 of this memberis concealed within the skirt portion I4 and extends parallel with itand at its lower edge closely adjacent the frame I'I. The other 35portion of the member I8 lies beneath the top of the cover. The memberI8 is made of any desired suitably stiif material, asvfor example fiberboard, and is shown as formed with a separatel plate section 2| securediiatwise to the portion 40 I9.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the longitudinal axis ofthe hinge connection be|\ tween the cover portion I2 and the bodyportion I0 is adjacent the side of the reinforcing frame 45 II at theback side of the case.

'I'he case also comprises spring means operating when the zipper I6 isreleased, to cause the cover portion vI2.to automatically swing to openposition as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The particu- 50 lar spring meansshown comprise two coil springs 22 loosely surrounding the side memberof the reinforcing frame I1 at the backedge of the case and each rigidlysecured thereto at one end as represented at 23. 'Ihe convolution ofeach spring at its other end terminates in a substantially straightlaterally projecting extension 24 which bears against the portion I9'ofthe reinforcement I8 and under the tension of these springs forces' thecover to the' open position shown, the extensions 24 of the springsbeing shown as located between the portions I9 and 2l of the reinforcement I8.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the swinging of the coverportion I2 to closed position so tensions the springs 22 that when the.cover is released, the springs will automatically swing the cover toopen position. l

As will be noted, the extensions 24 of the springs shorten as the coveris swung toward closed position and lengthen as the cover is swung inthe opposite direction, due to the winding and unwinding, respectively,of these extensions of the springs around the side of the reinforcingframe I1 on which they are supported. Thus these extensions of thesprings cannot be rigidly fastened to the cover portion I2 withoutobjection which is avoided in accordance with my invention by providingfor relative movement between the extensions 24 of the springs and thecover por- .tion I2. This -is provided for preferably by forming guidesin which the spring extensions may slide, these guides, in theparticular construction shown being formed by providing cross grooves 25between the portions I9 and 2| of the reinforcing member 20 as forexample by bending the member 25 crosswise thereof at the places Wherethese grooves are to be provided.

Referring to the construction of case shown in Figs. 5-7, this case asto its'general features of construction is of a common type comprising abody portion 26 having a reinforcing frame 21, as for example of stiffwire, at its upper portion, this frame being shown as concealed 'withinthe flexible sheet material forming the side walls of the body portion.

The case also comprises a cover portion represented at 28 hinged at anedge thereof, to the back edge of the body portion .26, as by means ,offlexible sheet material 29 shown as in the form of a ap on the coverportion 28 and secured to the body portion 26. At the front side of thebody portion 26 is a flap 38 of lflexible material shown as providedwith the socket portion 3| of. a ball and socket fastener, the ballportion of which represented at 32 is carried by the cover portion 28,these parts serving as means for releasably securing the cover portion28 in closed position.

The case also comprises spring means operating when the fastener device-32 is released,

to cause the cover portion 28 to automatically swing to open position asshown in Fig. 6. 'Ihe particular spring means shown comprise a coilspring 33 loosely surrounding the side member of the reinforcing frame21 at the back edge of the case and rigidly secured thereto at one endas represented at 34. The convolution of the vspring 33 at its other endterminates in a substantially straight laterally extending projection 35which engages the cover portion 28 and under` the tension of this springforces the cover portion to the open position shown. The extension 35 ofthe spring is shown as located between atwise opposed sheet-like members36 and 31 at the interior of. the cover portion 28, these members in theparticular construction shown being of fairly stiif material, such asfor example cardboard,.to afford to the cover the desired stiff- IleSS.v

As the extension 35 of the spring shortens and lengthens as the cover isswung to closed and open position, respectively, provision is made forrelative movement between the cover portion 28 and the extension 35, byforming a groove 38 between the sheet members 36 and 31 in which theextension 35 is slidingly guided.

The case is shown as provided with a check strap 39 connected at itsopposite endsI with the body portion 26 and the cover portion 28 topositively prevent the swinging of the cover beyond a certain positionunder the action of the spring.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown my invention as applied to a case having abody portion 40 such as that shown in Figs. 5-7, with a cover portionformed of two separate sections 4I hinged to opposite edges of the bodyportion 4 0' as for example as explained of the construction shown inFigs. 5-7, their inner edges substantially meeting, at which edges theyare shown as equipped with means holding them in closed position shownas in the form of a zipper 42.

The cover sections 4I are thus adapted to be swung upwardly andoutwardly, to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 9, to open thecase.

In this construction the body portion 40 is provided with a reinforcingframe 43 at its upper edge and corresponding withv Athe reinforcingframe 21, and each of the cover sections 4I is provided with springmeans for automatically swinging it to open position when the zipper 42is re1eased. The spring means shown are the same as those providedl inthe construction of Figs. 5-7, but in this particular construction twosprings, represented at 44, for each cover section and having lateralsubstantially straight extensions 45 are provided, whereas only onespring is shown for the single cover section of Figs. 5-7.

It will be understood that the matter of the number of the springsemployed is of no particular moment. In the constructions shown in Figs.

14 and 8 and 9 two springs are employed for.

each swinging member, whereas in the construction shown in Figs. 5-7 butone spring is shown, but it will be understood that if desired a singlespring may be used in place of the double springs of the first tworeferred to constructions, and two springs may be used instead of. thesingle spring of the other construction; or if desired, more than twosprings may be employed for each swinging member.

' While I have illustrated and described certain particularconstructions constituting embodiments of my invention, I .do not wishto be understood as intending to limit the invention thereto as thestructures shown may be variously modied and altered and the inventionembodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spiritof the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A container comprising, in combination: a body portion comprising aflexible side member and a rigid bottom member secured to one edge ofsaid side member; a rigid, continuous, wire frame carried in a pocket atthe open edge of said side member; a coiled spring surrounding andsecured at one end to the wire of said frame; a cover member hinged tosaid body member and formed with a rigid portion; the remaining end ofsaid coiled spring extending to uncoiled position and held in slidingengagement with said rigid portion; said spring placed in coilingcompression by closure of said cover about its hinge; external andinternal portions of theside mem- 9,191,557 f il 3 with said rigidbottom memberand with a ange extending normal thereto to reinforce thehinged ber extending and secured to said cover member to form portionsof the hinge; and means 'to hold the cover closed against action of saidspring tendlng'to open the same.

2. A container comprising, in combination: a. body portion comprising aiiexible side member and a rigid bottom member secured to one edge ofsaid side member; a rigid, continuous, wire frame carried in a pocket atthe open edge of said aide member; a coiled spring surrounding andsecured at one end to the wire of said frame; a. cover member hinged tosaid body member and formed with a rigid portion extending parallelportion; the remaining end oi' said coiled spring extending to uncoiledposition and held in sliding engagement with said rigid cover flange;said 5 spring placed-inv coiling compression by closure of said coverabout its hinge; external and internal portions of the side memberextending'and secured to said cover member to form portions of thehinge; and means to hold the cover closed m againstaction of said springtending to open the same.

MELVIN H. CLINE.

